Fifteen teenager from a rural Moroccan town of Sidi Kacemhave have been treated for rabies after reportedly raping an infected local donkey.

The infected boys spent a week at the Mechraa Belksiri Hospital receiving treatments after they contracted the disease from the animal.

According to Morocco World News, the number of boys who raped the donkey were more than 15, but many families secretly took their sons for treatment at hospitals outside the immediate area to avoid shame.

Only 15 of the boys were taken to the local hospital.

The local authorities are trying to find anyone who has “approached” or “admired” the animal closely to limit further spread of disease.

The occurrence, has become the subject of mockery and ridicule among the population of the small town, has also become a subject of fear and shame for parents who in the utmost secrecy had their children vaccinated in case they had touched the animal.

In order to avoid the further risk of spreading the disease, authorities have ordered the owner of the animal to slaughter it.